Artificial leg



G. W. PRISBREY. ARTIFICIAL LEG.

AFFL ICATION FILED AUG. II I919. 1,350,518:

3 SHEETSSHE Patented Aug. 24, 0.

u. w. PRISBREY'. ARTIFICIAL LEG. APPLICATION FILED AUG. I919.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

3 SHEEIS-SHEET 2.

15' I: 'E E eozye 7% 9735x9 0 I w MOI/"@410 G. W. PRISBREY. ARTIFICIAL LEG.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1919.

1 350, 51 8 Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED [STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE w. PRISBREY, OF ST. eEoEGE, UTAH, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD To GRANT TEIsnREY. on ST. GEORGE, UTAH.

ARTIFICIAL EEG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE V. PRIsnnEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. George, in the county of Washington and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Legs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to artificial legs.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved ankle joint and improved securing means for uniting this joint with the foot and leg sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved toe joint and improved securing means for uniting this toe joint with the foot and toe sections.

Another object is to provide improved. knee joints and their connections.

Other objects and advantages may be come apparent to persons who read the following details of description in connection which the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved artificial leg.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the foot and the lower. portion of the adjacent leg section, the section of this view being taken along the line 3-3 of Figs. 41 and 5.

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view, the section being taken substantially along the line 1 1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, the section being taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, the ankle joints and cer-' tain of its attaching elements being shown in full elevation.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view somewhat similar to Fig. 5, but the main portions of the ankle joint and certain of its attaching elements being shown in section.

Fig. 7 is an elevation illustrating the ankle joint and its leg-attaching elements detached from the other members of the leg and foot.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view illustrating the main elements of the toe joint, the section being taken along the line 88 of Fig. 10.

Fig: 9 is a side elevation illustratlng the toe section, toe joint and the attaching stud of the latter.

' Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of one of the knee joints.

Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the knee joint shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view of the knee joint, the section being taken along the line 1313 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14; is a perspective view illustrating a group of knee joint elements separated from one another.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in which similar reference characters correspond with similar parts throughout the several views the device comprises broadly a stump socket 15, a leg section 16, a foot section 17, a toe section 18 and joints connecting the several members 15 to 18 inclusive. The stump socket is provided with a substantially inverted U-shaped strap or flexible element 19 and a flexible loop 20, these elements 19 and 20 being attachable to a belt or other supporting means in any appropriate way. A T-shaped bar 21 has its head and vertical stem secured to one side of the stump socket, and a similar bar 21 is similarly secured to the opposite side of the stump socket, rivets or other securing means being employed for uniting the stump socket with the bars 21. An inverted T-shap ed bar 22 has its head and stem embedded in one side of the leg section 16 and secured by rivets or' other suitable means, and a similar bar 22 is similarly secured to the opposite side of the leg section. The bars 22 extend upward from the leg section 16 and are pivotally connected to the depending ends of the bars 21 in a manner to form knee joints, the details of construction of these knee joints being as follows:

Referring to Figs. 11 to 14, it will be seen that the lower end of each bar 21 is formed with oppositely extending bosses 23, the 'upper end of each bar 22 being formed with a recess or cavity 24 to receive one of these bosses, and a keeper 25 being formed with a recess 26 to receive the other one of this pair of bosses 23. Each cavity 24 and 26 is sufficiently large to receive a washer 27, and these washers surround the bosses 23 and fill the space between the bosses and the annular casings of the cavity. The washers 27 may be formed of leather or any tough and pliable material, so-that the knee joints (of which they are elements) aresomewhat yieldable transversely of their axis. In other words, these washers'c'ushion' the knee joints to prevent them from rattl-mg, and also serve as means for absorbmg lubrication and applying such ,lubrication to the bosses 23 and adjacent working parts.

- Each bar 22 is formed with a groove-28 which receives a rib. 29 of the contiguous keeper 25,.the groove 28 and rib 29 being preferably arcuate so that these elements maybe formed by the same rotary tool that forms the cavities 24; that is, the cavities may be bored or counter-sunk by means of a rotary tool having a lateral extension which forms the groove 28 or rib 29 simultaneously with the formingof the cavity.

A screw 30 may be provided to extend through an aperture 3l.of each keeper 25 and engaged with a screw threadedaperture 32 of one of the bars 22. Moreover, eachkeeper 25may be provided with an aperture 33 which receives a stud 34 of-the contiguous bar'22. It will be seen,'therefore, that the elements 29,- 31 and 33 of each member 25 cooperate with the corresponding elements 28, 32 and 34-of each bar 22 so as to removably secure a keeper 25 to; one of the bars 22 in such relation that .the maximum degree of rigidity and accurate positioning of these assembled parts is assured.

Referring now more particularlyto Figs. 3 to] 7 inclusive, it vwillbe. seen that the leg section 16 has a recessed lower end,the recess thereof being of a size andshapeto conform to thecontour of a bearing plate 35 V and the socket members 36 which are united with thisyplate. This lower recess communicates-with an upper recess or cavity 3,7,through the medium of vertical bores or passageswhich receive, screws or bolts 38. The lower ends of the bolts 38 are united withthe upper ends of the sockets 36, and the upper ends of the bolts 38 are provided with nuts :39Ewhich cooperate-with the bolts to-hold the plate35 and sockets36' in the lower recess of theleg member 16.1 There fore, the elements 35 and 36 are rigidly united with the leg section16. j The plate 35 is provided with an approximately cylindrical groove 40 which extends forward and rearward, and this plate is also, apertured and screwthreaded to receive a screw 41. d An ap r ximately cylin 'dric'al supporting element 42 is formed on top of a rib which extends upward' from a tubular" element orcas1ng43, and agroove 44 extends laterally across"thefsupporting.

element 42 and receives the lower-end of the screw 41 so tojprevent longitudinal movement of the 'bearingelement 42in its seat or bearing' 40. The member constitutes a joint mem ber which is pivotally connected to the foot member-by ing one another. The plate 35 may oscillate or have rotary movement laterally of the supportingor bearing element 42, there by permitting'a limited lateral oscillating movement of the foot section 'with relation to the leg section, as will more clearly appear hereinafter. "Springs 44 have their upper ends seated in the sockets 36 and their lower ends seated against the upper surface of easing 43,v pins 45 being provided to'retain the springs in their proper position. These springs pressiequally at equal distances at opposite sides of the bear ingmember. 42, and constitute balancing means to'hold the plate 35 in its substantially horizontal position. Recesses or clearance spaces 46 are provided on opposite sides. of the ankle portions of the leg, and either of the springs may be compressed while the other expands by its inherent springiness, and therefore, the foot section has a limited and somewhat resisted lateral movement about the pivotal connection is secured thereto by screws or other appropriate'means. Theiupper ends of the supports 77 extendupward from opposite sides of the foot section and are provided with flanges 78 which extend over a depressed 05 portion or laterally extending groove 43 in which the casing 43 is mounted to rotate. The flanges 78 provide bearings in which the ends of the cylindrical casing 43 are journaled and absorbent packings may be provided at th'e'ends of the casing 43 to lubricate the hearings or flanges 78. I For the purpose of causing rotary movement of the barrel or casing 43, a torsional spring79 is disposed within the casing and has one end engaged with the casing, the other end of this spring being engaged with alug 80 which is united with the tubular supporting and adjusting member 81. The endsof the member 81 are supported 20 in recesses or seats provided in the inner section, but when the screw 82 is loosened,

the tube 81 may be turned so as to regulate the tension of the spring 79. Therefore, the spring may be tensioned or adjusted so that the foot offers a greater or less resistance to being rotated or oscillated about its pivot or ankle oint.

The barrel or casing 43 is formed with a slot 83 through which a pin or stud S L extends from the tube 81. The inner end of the pin 84 is preferably engaged with one of several screwthreaded apertures (not shown), and by changing the screw 84 from one to another of such apertures, the spring 7 9 may be held under different degrees of tension, it being understood that the slot 83 limits movement of the pin 84 in one direction but permits it to move in the opposite direction so that the tube 81 may be turned for effecting a still greater degree of tension of the spring '79.

The toe section is preferably formed of primarily separate superposed plates of leather or other light and somewhat flexible material, and any appropriate securing means may be employed as indicated at 85, for securing the upper and lower portions or plates of the toe section in HHISOII. A substantially U-shaped wire or rod 86 has its middle portion seated and clamped between the upper and lower portions of the toe section, the ends of this member 86 extending rearwardly from the toe section and being engaged with a shaft 87 so as to support the latter in horizontal position. Disks 88 are rigidly united withthe shaft 87, and these disks constitute bearings for the ends of a barrel or casing 89 which is rigidly united with the foot section 17 by means of a stud or bolt 90 and a nut 91, a recess or cavity 92 being formed in the foot section for receiving the nut. A spring 93 has one end engaged with one of the disks 8S and has its other end engaged with the barrcl'or casing 89 so as to effect rotary relative movement of the foot and toe sections through the medium of the casing 89 and shaft 8 7.

Referring again to Fig. 1.4: it willbe seen that shoulders 21', 22 and 25 are formed on the members 21, 22 and 25 respectively,

and the shoulders 22 and 25 unitedly coact with the shoulders 21 for limiting forward and rearward the rotary movements of the knee joint.

Although I have described this embodiment of my invention very specifically, it is not intended to limit this invention to these exact details of construction and arrangement, but changes may be made within the scope of the inventive ideas as implied and claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an artificial leg, a leg section, a foot section, a joint member pivotally connected to the leg section, and pivotally connected to the foot section, and elastic means to swing the leg section and foot section about their pivoted connections, the axes of said pivotal connections crossing one another to permit different angular movements of the leg sec-- tion and foot section relative to said joint member.

2. In an artificial leg, a leg section, a foot section, bearings extending up from opposite sides of the foot section, a casing rotatably supported by said bearings and hav ing a pivotal leg-supporting element on and extending up from its outer surface, springs on opposite sides of said leg-supporting element and being correlated with the casing for balancing the leg portion on said legsupporting element, and means including a spring within the casing to cflect rotary movement of said casing.

3. In an artificial leg, a leg section, a foot section, bearings extending up from opposite sides of the foot section and comprising annular flanges, a cylindrical casing having primarily open ends closed by said bearings and rotatably seated in said annular flanges, said leg-section being supported by said casing, a bridge extending through said casing and rigidly connecting said bearings to one another, and a torsional spring coiled around said bridge and being engaged with the latter and with said casing so as to effect rotary movement of the casing relative to said bearings.

4. In an artificial leg, a leg section, a foot section, bearings extending up from opposite sides of the foot section and comprising annular flanges, a cylindrical casing having primarily open ends closed by said bearings and rotatably seated in said annular flanges, said leg-section being supported by said casing, a tubular bridge member having its ends abutting against the inwardly facing surfaces of said bearings, a screw extending through said tubular bridge member and coacting therewith to rigidly unite the said bearings, and a. torsional spring surrounding said tubular bridge member and being engaged withthe latter and with said casing for effecting rotary movement of the casing relative to said bearings.

5. In an artificial leg, he combination with a leg-section comprising a body having a recessed lower end, a bearing plate fitted in the said lower end, spring receiving sockets united with and extending up from said plate into recesses of said body, and screw-threaded fasteners united with and ex tending up from said sockets into engagement with said body, of a foot section, an ankle joint structure connected to the foot section and to the said bearing plate, and springs having their upper ends in said sockets and their lower ends engaging with said ankle joint structure.

6. In anartificial leg, the combination of afoot section, a pair of leg-bearing brackets each formed with a horizontal lower portion and with an upright bearing portion, said horizontal portions extending under and secured to the lower side of the foot section, a bridge uniting the upper ends of said brackets, an ankle-joint member supported by said brackets and adapted to support a leg-section, and aspring surrounding and connected to said bridge and being engaged with said ankle joint member so as to control the latter. p

'7. In'an artificial leg, an ankle oint member comprising an upstanding rib having an approximately cylindrical ,top formed with a lateral groove, a bearing plate adapted to be secured to a leg member and having anapproximately cylindrical hearing recess in which said approximately cylindrical top is seated for rotary movement, and 'means extending from said bearing plate into said lateral groove to prevent longitudinal movement of said rib relative to said plate. a Y I 8. In an artificial leg, a footsection, a leg-section, bearings secured to and extending up from opposite sides of the'foot section, an ankle joint member supported by said bearings and supporting said leg section, a spring disposed between said bearings and engaged with said ankle joint member and being inherently operable to impart rotary movement to the latter, and'means carried by and coacting with said bearings for regulating'the tension of said spring.

9. In a joint, a bar adapted to be secured to an artificial leg section and provided with a a head having bosses extending laterally from its sides, a bar adapted to be secured to another leg section and having a-hollow head forming onesection of a bearing hous-. ing, a keeper releasably connected with the second bar and having a hollow headform-' ing the second section of the bearing housing, the head of the first bar extending into the bearing housing with its bosses extending transversely therein, and nonmetallic washers fitting within the bearing housing 7 against the sides of the headof the first bar andabout said bosses and adapted-to absorb' a. lubricant.

tion, a shaftsecured to saidtoe section and extending through said casing, and a spring in the casing and having one end fixed with relation to said shaft and its other end-fixed with relation'to' said casing and being effective to cause a rotary relative movement of the shaft and easing. V

11. In an artificial foot, a foot section, a toe section, a shaft secured to said toe section, a pair of disks secured respectively on the end portions of said'shaft, a casing inclosing the disks androtatably seated thereon, butheld against. axial movement relative thereto and a spring coiled around the part of the shaft between said disks and having one end secured to one-of said disks,

'the ether end of said springbeing engaged with said casing to effect. its rotary movement relative to said shaft.

12.'In an artificialfoot, a foot section, a toe section composed of superposed primarily separate portions, a U-shaped rod having its middle portion seated'between said superposed portions and havin its ends extending rearward, a shaft carried by the rearwardly extending ends of said rod, means pivotally connecting said shaft to said foot section, and a spring connecting said means with said shaft andbeing effective to cause rotary relative movement ofthe foot and toe sections.

13. Ina knee joint, a baradapted to be securedxto an artificial leg section and comprising -an end portionhaving oppositely extending bosses, a barv adapted to besecured to another leg section and comprising a cavity in which one of said bosses is seated, a keeper having a cavity in which the other one of said bosses isseated, said keeper having a rib extending laterally thereacross, the second said bar having a groove extending thereacross and having said" rib fitted therein, and means coacting with saidrib and groove for removably but otherwise immovably securing the keeper onthe second said bar. 7

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set 

